Paper blank and seat cover dispenser



J. c. THOMASMA 2,299,940 PAPER BLANK SEAT COVER DISPENSER Filed Oct. 19, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. I

M22 6'. Mas/11w BY/ 4 /v RNEY.

Patented Oct. 27, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PAPER BLANK AND SEAT COVER DISPENSER John C. Thomasma, Chicago, 111.

Application October 19, 1940, Serial No. 361,829

7 Claims.

My invention is directed to a novel, eflicient,

easily removable and easily mountable container or dispenser adapted for holding and dispensing any one of a variety of paper blanks, together with manually actuatable means for successively dispensing one of a plurality of blanks within the housing at a time. More specifically, the preferred form of my invention, which is hereinafter described, is one of a number of forms the invention may take, and which preferred form is particularly used in connection with dispensing blanks of relatively thin paper tissue adapted for use preferably as toilet seat covers.

While the hereinafter described preferred form is adapted for the successive projection from a container of relatively light tissue blanks usable as covers for seats or the like, I desire is to be understood that the invention is also applicable to dispensing paper blanks of varying shapes, sizes or thicknesses, which might necessitate the mere exercise of mechanical skill in altering the size, proportion, and to a limited extent the relative positions of' some of the respective parts hereinafter described and claimed.

It is an object of my invention to provide a novel container associated witha pack of individually removable paper blanks which is compact and of relatively small size, which container is easily attachable or mountable either near a toilet bowl, on a wall, or with respect to other stationary objects, which is so constructed that the individual blanks mounted within the container are individually projectable and then withdrawable; that as each paper blank or cover is withdrawn, it will preferably, though not necessarily, unfold itself to lie flat upon the object or surface on which it is to be used, as for example, a toilet seat.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a compact, economically manufacturable container, cabinet or dispenser in which one or more packs of paper blanks are mountable or suspendable and. which includes manually actuatable mechanism necessitating but a single, onedirection movement by the user to cause engagement and projection of a portion of a paper blank or cover from the dispenser or container by which portion it may be conveniently grasped by the user for withdrawal.

An important object of my invention is the provision of a novel mechanism adapted for engaging and dispensing relatively thin fibrous paper sheets adapted for various uses, which mechanism includes a slidably mounted plate or member, an exposed grippingelement connected to said slidable member, a flexible spring arrangement and means associated with the aforesaid, whereby upon downward movement of said slide plate or member, said spring will engage and project to grippable position one of the paper or fibrous blanks within the container.

Other and further objects of my invention will be apparent from the following description, drawings and claims.

This invention (in one of its preferred forms) is illustrated and described in the following:

Fig. l is a front elevational view showing the paper blank dispenser of. my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing the interior parts and one form of a pack of paper or fibrous blanks mounted therein.

Fig. 3 is 'a front elevation of my blank dispenser unit with the forward wall or section thereof lowered or broken away to show in front elevation the mounted pack of blanks within the unit.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the dispenser unit showing the separable hinged sections open, one from the other, to disclose the interior parts.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged elevational view of a central portion of my dispenser, illustrating the structural features of the manually operable slide plate, blank engaging spring, and associated parts, in upper retracted position.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary, front elevational view similar. to Fig. 5 showing the projecting mechanism and associated parts with the slidable plate or member and engagin Sp in lowered position.

Reference numerals l0 and Il designate back and front portions or sections respectively of a relatively thin, substantially fiat metal shell, container or housing, preferably made of sheet metal. Back section I!) has opposite side walls made to form angularly bent flanges Illa and lllh respectively and its normally upper edge turned at right angles to form flange Inc. The normally lower edge of back section In is bent at an obtuse angle to form inwardly flared flange ltd.

Back section In is provided with spaced apart holes l2 through which suitable screws (not shown) are passed to mount the dispenser cabinet on a wall Or other stationary surface. .A pair of angular brackets l3 are secured by riveting or the like to the inner surface of back section ID in spaced apart relation, near. the upper flange I00, these terminating in reduced stud ends providing means whereby a pack of paper blanks, seat covers or the like are suspended or mounted within the cabinet.

An integral inwardly extending boss 54 is formed at the lower edge of back section H], as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, preferably by pressing in an intermediate area of back section it], thereby presenting a substantially flat surface I M in a plane closer to front section II than the main part of back section It. The boss l4 normally holds the lower edges of a pack of paper blanks closer to front section I l for operative engagement by projection means hereinafter described.

Front section I i ha integral angular top flange Ma and integral lateral flanges llb andllc. The lower ends of flanges Ilb, Ho and flanges la and lllb have registering apertures through which suitable rivets l5 pass respectively whereby the said front and backse'ctions are separable by hinging or pivotingmovement. A bracket-like friction and locking j'clasp I6 is secured on the upper edge of back section I 0 whose upper surface releasably engages flange Ila of front section H to aid in'holding the said sections together. Said'sections are adapted to be releasably secured and locked together by a suitable conventional lock 36 shown at the right Of Fig. 4 whose slidable latch bolt is adapted to releasably engage the'downwardly extending end of the locking'c'lasp l6. Front section II is provided with a substantiallyrectangular slot 2i as shown in Fig. l to provide for movement of a handle hereinafter described. Reference numeral lldesig'nates 'a metal guide member or guide plate having its lateral edges bent backwardly and inwardly toward each other to form guideways, these inwardly bent edge flanges being spaced apart on each lateral edge and designated by numerals Ila, 11b, 11c, and lid respectively.

Intermediate the guide flanges Ila and llb, and I10 and Ild, are formed relatively longer, angular, inclined and inwardly bent and projecting flanges 32 and 33 which present a pair of downwardly and outwardly inclined surfaces in a plane inclined toward the guide member ll, as clearly shown in Figs. 2, 4, 5, and 6. These flanges may be formed by cutting out the blank from which guide member I! is made so that integral, relativell longer lateral ears remain which are later bent at right angles and then perpendicularly toward each other. A relatively shorter back plate 35 is mounted between lower flanges HI) and lid, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 in cross-section.

A flat metal plate I8 is slidably mounted in the guideway formed by guide member I! and plate35 and between th turned back flanges Ila, I10, I71) and 11d. Said plate I8 is struck out intermediate its length to form a spring anchoring hook l9 shown in Fig; ,2. An angular metal handle or grip is secured by welding or the like to theforward face of slide plate l8 so that its grippable part projects through and slides upwardly and downwardly in the slot 2! of front sectionll. j 3

A relatively fiat spring 22, preferably made of flexible spring steel has its upper end secured by rivets 23 to the upper end of slide plate l8, and prefrablyhaving washers 24 interposed therebetween as' illustrated in Fig. 2. Leaf spring 22 ha apair of diametrically opposite integral extensions or projections 25 formed integral with its lateral edges which are defined partially by gradually inwardly and downwardly flared edges 2511, which terminate in upper angular shoulders 251), as clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

A paper engaging friction element 25, which may be of yieldable rubber or other suitable material, or formed as a projecting part of spring 22, is mounted on the loWer end of leaf spring 22 by means of a suitable rivet 21 Or other suitable means. This paper engaging friction element, while preferable, is not essential and its function may be performed by the projecting end of the spring 22 suitably struck out to form a friction surface.

Said slide plate [8 and leaf spring 22 are normally held in upper retracted position by a coil spring 28 whose lower end is anchored to hook IQ of slide plate 3 and whose upper end is anchored to a hook 29 formed or mounted at the upper end of guide member H, as clearly shown in Figs. 2, 5 and 6.

Numeral 30 designates a backing strip or sheet preferably of cardboard provided with spaced holes which receive suspension brackets or hooks [3.

A pack or refill of paper or other usable or dispensable blanks or units may take various forms wherein a number of blanks ar releasably secured, one upon the other. In the preferred form wherein disposable cut sheets or thin tissue are to be successively dispensed and which are adapted to be used as toilet seat covers, I place a plurality of paper tissue blanks which have been cut with a central aperture or arcuate slit, each flat upon the other and then fold the entire group or pack along a transverse line above the normal center of the blanks and so that one portion of the blanks depend substantially below the opposite adjacently lying portion as shown in Fig. 2. In this manner the inner surface of the depending portion of the innermost blank is exposed forwardly, namely to the front section of the cabinet or housing.

Th pack of blanks thus formed and designated by numeral 3| is: secured to the backing strip 39 by a plurality of wire staples or the like which are passed through a single thickness of the blanks and through said back strip at points substantially near the outer lateral edges of the pack 3| and also at two or more points adjacent the central slit or aperture in the pack of blanks, substantially as shown in the rear view of Fig. 3.

The operation is as follows:

When the pack of disposable blanks is mounted in the dispenser unit as herein described, the user will grip or press the handle 20 from the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 and move the same downwardly. Thereupon the inner surface of the extensions or projections 25 of spring 22 ride upon the surface of inclined projecting lugs or flanges 32 and 33, the curved edge 25a of spring 25 aiding in causing the spring 22 to move down outside of saidfianges though inwardly with respect to' the dispenser housing.

As the slide plate and spring are depressed, the friction element 26 is yieldably forced against the exposed surface of the depending part of either the innermost or foremost blank of the pack, and the continued downward movement pushes or projects such blank though lower opening 34 of the dispenser housing where it may be grippedby the user and wholly removed.

When the handle 20 and slide plate [8 is moved to its lower limit, the" user releases handle 20, and spring 28 pulls said parts to the upper position shown in Fig. 5 from whence the operation is repeated.

Various changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention herein specifically described without departing from or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention or any features thereof, and nothing herein shall be construed as limitations upon the invention, its concept or structural embodiment as to the whole or any part thereofl I claim as myinvention:

1. In a dispensing device for paper blanks; an openable housing including a front section and a back section hingedly' connected together and having an elongated opening at its lower end; suspension elements in said housing and connected to said back section'and adapted to support a plurality of paper blanks; a tunnel-like guide member mounted in said housing in upwardly extending direction; a slide plate slidably mounted in said guide member; a handle element on said slide plate and extending exteriorly of said housing and forming means for moving said slide plate; a spring connected to said guide member and to said side plate for normally returning said slide plate to upper position; a pair of angular flanges on the lateral edges of said guide member intermediate its ends and forming surfaces inclined with respect to said guide member; a leaf spring having laterally projecting portions and connected at one end to said slide plate and normally substantially parallel to said slide plate; the laterally projecting portions of said leaf spring being adapted to slidably engage said guide member flanges to cause the lower end of said leafspring to flex inwardly during downward movement to engage and to project a, paper blank through the lower opening of said housing.

2. In a device for successively dispensing paper blanks; a housing having hinged together front and back sections and having a lower opening through which the blanks are projected; means on one of said sections for mounting a pack of paper blanks in said housing; a guide member having an elongated slot and backturned lateral edges forming a guideway; a slide plate slidable between the lateral edges of said guide member; a manually engageable element connected to said slide plate whereby the latter is manually actuated; a pair of lateral edge flanges on said guide member presenting surfaces inclined to the plane of said guide member; a leaf spring connected at its upper end to and parallel with said guide plate, said leaf spring having integral diametrically opposite edge projections whose lower edges curve gradually inwardly and merge with the side edges respectively of said spring; a spring connected at one end to said guide member and at its other end to said slide plate for normally returning said slide plate and leaf spring to retracted position, and a paper-engaging friction element on the free end of said leaf spring, the downward movement of said slide plate causing the inclined lateral edge flanges to flex the free end of said leaf spring inwardly to cause said friction element to engage and project a paper blank through said housing opening.

3. In a dispensing unit for paper blanks; a housing having a delivery opening and formed of separable front and back sections; means on one of said sections and within the housing for supporting a plurality of paper blanks; a longitudinally slotted guide member mounted in a vertically extending direction on said front section; a 75 pair of inclined flangeson the lateraledgesof said guide member; a slide plate slidable on said guide member and having an angularlybent portion forming a handle projecting through and slidable in the-slot of said guide member; a sub stantially flat spring connected at one end to said slide plate, said spring having integral lateral projections, and a spring f'orretra'cting said slide plate and said flat spring, the downward movement of said handle and slide plate'causingsaidspring lateral projections to slidably engage said inclined flanges to flex sai'd flat spring to cause its free end to engage and project a blank through said delivery opening. a i

4. In a dispensing unit for paper blanks; -a housing including separable sections and means thereon for suspending a pack of blanks therein and having a discharge opening, the forward of said sections being slotted; a guide member mounted on said front section; inclined flange elements on said guide member; a slide plate slidable in said guide member; a leaf spring secured at one end to said slide plate and having lateral extending integral extensions partially defined by outwardly flaring edges; a handle element on said slide plate projecting through said housing section slot, and a friction element on the free end of said spring, the downward movement of said slide plate and spring causing inward flexing of said spring to cause said friction element to engage and project one of the said blanks.

5. In a dispensing unit for paper blanks; a housing including separable sections and having a discharge opening and having means thereon for suspending a pack of blanks therein, the forward of said sections being slotted, said rear housing section having a lower inwardly extended portion adapted to hold the lower parts of the paper blanks flexed inwardly toward the front section; a guide member mounted on said front section; included flange elements on said guide member; a slide plate slidable in said guide member; a leaf spring secured at one end to said slide plate and having lateral extending integral extensions partially defined by outwardly flaring edges; a handle element on said slide plate projecting through said housing section slot; a friction element on the free end of said spring, and a spring for returning said slide plate and spring to upper position, the downward movement of said slide plate and spring causing inward flexing of said spring to cause said friction element to engage and project one of said blanks.

6. In a dispensing unit for flexible fibrous blanks, a housing including front and back sepa rable sections connected along one edge for pivoted movement, said housing having a discharge slot in its lower end, means on the back section for suspending a pack of blanks thereon, the front section being provided with a vertical slot, a guide member mounted on said front section, outwardly projecting flange elements on said guide member inclined downwardly and away from said front section, a slide plate slidable in said guide member, a leaf spring secured at its upper end to the slide plate and having laterally extending integral extensions, a handle element connected to the slide plate and extending outwardly through the vertical slot in the front section, a coil spring connecting the upper portion of the slide plate and said guide member for returning the slide plate and the leaf spring to their initial retracted position, the depression of the handle element being adapted to move the slide plate and leaf spring downward to cause the lateral extensions on said leaf spring to slidably remainder thereof and having a delivery opening 1 in its lower end, means in said housing for suspending therein a plurality of superposed paper blanks, a guide member mounted on the front section of the housing, inwardly and downwardly inclined flange elements on the lateral edges of said guide member, a slide plate slidable in said guide member, a finger engaging element connected to said slide plate for operating the same extending outwardly through the vertical slot in the front section, a flexible leaf spring having lateral extensions integral with its lateral edges secured at its upper end to the slide plate and adapted when lowered to engage said flange elements to be thereby flexed inwardly of the bolls-- ing and to engage one of the paper blanks, the downward movement of the slide plate and said leaf spring causing the latter to project the engaged paper blank through the delivery opening of the housing, and a coil spring connecting the upper part of the slide plate to the front section for returning said slide plate and the leaf spring to upper retracted position when the finger engaging element is released.

JOHN C. THOMASMA. 

